Successful Season?

[Kier]

If we do not go up this season and lose out in the play-offs, will this season be classed as successful or not?

I don't see how it cannot be; we have a small, relatively inexperienced squad with little quality beyond our first choice 11 and for most of the season had to manage without even a proper left-back! So therefore I think for Billy to have gotten us challenging is a remarkable achievement and shows what a quality manager he really is.

This has also exceeded everyone's expectations; most of us would have settled for a win for over Derby and a top 10 finish and thought of that as good progress. So to be pretty much certain of a play-off place with 10 games left shows how far we have come in such a short space of time.

If we do not go up then hopefully the board and AP can see the potential in the squad and manager and provide suitable backing to enable us to take the next step over the summer.

 

[Jonathan]

I think some people forget their expectations from pre-season.

Mine were that we'd push on from last year, becoming a top-half team pushing for the play-offs. If we were to lose every other game between now and May, leaving us in 7th or 8th, I'd still see it as a successful season. Of course, I'd be disappointed with how things changed, but in terms of my original hopes it would be a success.

The most we could have asked for this season was for the players to work hard, play at their best levels and move the team forward. All this has happened. Yes, we were terrible in the first half yesterday and have been off-colour a few times this season, but so has everyone else.

Newcastle and West Brom - the only teams above us - pay out wages ranging from £20k-a-week to £70k-a-week. Obviously the highest amounts are in the north east, but let's not forget they were both Premiership sides last year paying Premiership wages.

Our highest earner is most likely Robbie Earnshaw and he's reported to be on what, £10k-a-week? We've also only used 22 players this season and that's our entire squad. Newcastle and West Brom's are much larger and so they can afford to rest players when necessary.

I certainly won't be disappointed if we don't go up this season.

 

[winnits]

My aims for this season were for a top half finish, top ten would've been excellent, with a lingering desire to finish about Derby.

It would take a monumental f*** up for those objectives to be achieved, as such I can't really realistically call this season anything other than successful in the ongoing development of the club.

If we were to drop out of the playoffs all together at this stage then I think I would undoubtedly be disappointed, though, so my expectations have clearly been impacted. That would be the only way I think we could 'fail' this season now.

If we lose in the playoffs, so be it - and of course, there's still the chance of automatic promotion, albeit - in my opinion - a slim chance.

Nope - aside from the unlikely event of us dropping out of the playoffs altogether I don't think I could consider this season as anything other than positive - and the players, Billy and the acquisitions panel deserve great credit for their parts played.

The fans losing patience and forgetting their own modest expectations at the start of the season need a reality check.

 

[eezzeetiger]

ridiculous thread, obviously a very very good season.

 

[TheDude]

If we go up, bring it on.

We don't, maybe we wasn't ready this season and go for it next season.

 

[Le Juif Rouge]

Yes it will be a success....however Billy must be feeling exactly how BC & PT felt in 1968 at the Sheep and then with us 1976/77....can we?..should we?..feckin right we will!

 

[Prem]

I think some people forget their expectations from pre-season.

Mine were that we'd push on from last year, becoming a top-half team pushing for the play-offs. If we were to lose every other game between now and May, leaving us in 7th or 8th, I'd still see it as a successful season. Of course, I'd be disappointed with how things changed, but in terms of my original hopes it would be a success.

The most we could have asked for this season was for the players to work hard, play at their best levels and move the team forward. All this has happened. Yes, we were terrible in the first half yesterday and have been off-colour a few times this season, but so has everyone else.

Newcastle and West Brom - the only teams above us - pay out wages ranging from £20k-a-week to £70k-a-week. Obviously the highest amounts are in the north east, but let's not forget they were both Premiership sides last year paying Premiership wages.

Our highest earner is most likely Robbie Earnshaw and he's reported to be on what, £10k-a-week? We've also only used 22 players this season and that's our entire squad. Newcastle and West Brom's are much larger and so they can afford to rest players when necessary.

I certainly won't be disappointed if we don't go up this season.

Thought I'd register up as the season reaches its climax! As a regular Baggies fan, that's just not true I'm afraid and you're ridiculous making sweeping statements on a subject you clearly know nothing about. I think you would be surprised at our wage bill. I would be surprised if we offer £15k a week when we're in the Premiership let alone the Championship.

All our players are on contracts where they take a significant pay cut if we are in the Championship.

 

[Jonathan]

I meant that the players you have were signed as Premiership players - or some of them were, anyway.

You're right that I don't know about your wage structure, but I'd be more than willing to bet that pretty much every single one of your first team squad earns more than our players.

It also seems that you don't know about your wage structure for sure, so I wouldn't quash my comments too quickly.

The 20k - 70k thing was aimed more at Newcastle, so apologies that wasn't clear.

 

[fsor12]

In terms of staying in this division it has been successful considering how we were last season, but in terms of anythink else like cup competitions no because we were knocked out, but as for promotion , it aint over yet but if we were not to go up i for one won't be too down hearted, not because it's been a successful season far from it, it's because we are simply not good enough yet, fact.

Anyway success is measured on what you achive and we aint achived anything bar staying up.

 

[winnits]

ridiculous thread, obviously a very very good season.

It's not really a ridiculous thread, the original poster agrees with you - but, in getting carried away by their own greed and fickleness, many fans on message boards or in the stands seem to forget this and act as though the world is ending because we've hit a sticky patch away from home.

 

[Prem]

I meant that the players you have were signed as Premiership players - or some of them were, anyway.

You're right that I don't know about your wage structure, but I'd be more than willing to bet that pretty much every single one of your first team squad earns more than our players.

It also seems that you don't know about your wage structure for sure, so I wouldn't quash my comments too quickly.

The 20k - 70k thing was aimed more at Newcastle, so apologies that wasn't clear.

Fair comments mate, but we're not big payers. Most of our lot know that, in fact its one of the reasons why we are incapable of staying up. We will pay the transfer fees but we won't pay the big wages so we never get the quality of player required to help us stay up. That is the way it has been under this chairman and the way it will be next season as well if we manage to finish the season by going up.

As you say its Newcastle who pay two or three even four times the rate that we would because they'd never expected to go down and hadn't negotiated flex-down rates in their contracts with players.

We do it because we know in all likelihood it will be necessary following our inevitable relegation!

 

[Eastwood Red]

My expectations this season were a top half finish, obviously how things have unfolded over the season now I wouldn't be happy unless we were in the play-offs at least.

But even if we do drop out of the play-offs completely and have a top half finish to me it would still be a good season, its certainly a lot better than last year!

 

[winnits]

I was always of the understanding that West Brom were well known for being (relatively) miserly in terms of wage structure...

 

[Prem]

I was always of the understanding that West Brom were well known for being (relatively) miserly in terms of wage structure...

Indeed. Until we change that and thereby attract higher quality players, it will be difficult for us to get out of the constant cycle of promotion/relegation. Still, it means following us has become more interesting than 95% of other clubs.

 

[Jonathan]

I know that West Brom are renowned for having the 'right' structure for going up to the Premiership and surviving should they be relegated and I think that's what you're saying.

I'd still stand by what I said about pretty much all your players earning more than ours, though.

This is a genuine question as well, how many players do you have in your squad at the moment?

 

[Prem]

I know that West Brom are renowned for having the 'right' structure for going up to the Premiership and surviving should they be relegated and I think that's what you're saying.

I'd still stand by what I said about pretty much all your players earning more than ours, though.

This is a genuine question as well, how many players do you have in your squad at the moment?

I would say its around 24. But that includes Slory, Tamas, Watson and Reid. All of who are on loan. Take them out and that is 20. The loans are only there because we had serious injury problems a few weeks ago but since then Bednar, Miller, Morrison and Barnes are fit again and Thomas has overcome his suspension.

When we played Cardiff away 2 weeks ago, we barely found 7 to put on the bench and the first 11 picked itself simply because of who was available.

 

[Jonathan]

Fair enough. Interesting to hear that as we've only used 22 players this season. It seems that the teams with the biggest squads are further down the league. Newcastle not included.

Then again, with the squad they have, anything less than an easy first place would be ridiculous. I bet one of their players - Jonas, Coloccini etc. - earns more than the entire squad of some sides in the league.

 

[Prem]

Fair enough. Interesting to hear that as we've only used 22 players this season. It seems that the teams with the biggest squads are further down the league. Newcastle not included.

Then again, with the squad they have, anything less than an easy first place would be ridiculous. I bet one of their players - Jonas, Coloccini etc. - earns more than the entire squad of some sides in the league.

We've used 25. That includes Nouble who has gone back to West Ham now. He was a waste of time.

I'm hoping that our experience of being in this position several times now is going to keep us ahead of you. We don't really have anyone missing now, only Jara for the season.

I am feeling reasonable about it. Only 10 games to go and our goal difference is worth a point on you, so you need to win 2 more games than us to overhaul us now. That really leaves 8 games in which we need to at least match your results to stay ahead.

We have our toughest remaining game away to Swansea on Tuesday but then and again, you still have Newcastle away so we really should be able to see this through. Except it won't happen as smoothly as that. Still a few twists to come I think.

 

[winnits]

I think you'll drop enough points to be caught, but we won't gain enough to take advantage lol

If that makes sense.

 

[Kier]

I think you'll drop enough points to be caught, but we won't gain enough to take advantage lol

If that makes sense.

I know what you mean.

If that is the case then maybe Swansea will come up through the middle and sneak second place? Stranger things have happened.

 

[Ravi]

I predicted 4th so at the moment we are performing slightly above my expectations. Play offs is cup football so just being in them would count as success imo.
If we didnt even make the playoffs from here, and given the amount of money spent, that would have to go down as a major f*** up and a disappointing season.

 

[nffcjoe]

i think if we do not go up this season we'll have to wait a while for a return to the prem, of course it will be a successful season though in terms of the fact we finished 2 places above the relegation zone last year and we've come back and had a fight for promotion. but it would be very frustrating to have gone through all of this and come out still being a championship side, it would be a season gone to waste. this is our shot to return as a premiership side and its there for the taking, don't think i could cope with another season in this league.

 

[MartynJJ]

don't think i could cope with another season in this league.

I'd sooner another season in this league than 3 season in league one.
TBH I quite like the Championship, a decent level of football and a league that by and large has a good element of competition.
As much as I'd love a season in the Premiership I just don't fancy being in yet another relegation battle. I've seen far too many of those in the last ten years and I'd be happy with steady consolidation.
At the end of the day this season for me as been one of the best for a long while and irrespective of wether or not we go up, it's been a season where for once in a long time we have been able to dream, at moments witness some absolutely scinitillating football and more often than not pinch ourselves over our league position.

I've enjoyed the ride and it aint over yet

 

[weasel]

If we only make the play offs (which is almost certain) then it will have been a success. I don't think an overwhelming success given the money we spent, but a great success all the same.

However I've got to admit I'm still utterly sceptical about whether this is Forest's time to make it back with the big boys. We've been 3rd for a long while now but I have to say the season still doesn't feel like a promotion season to me. The ground is not jubilant, as it should be. It's certainly not as loud as it ought to be. There's all the constant media fun and game we listen to from William. We could well sneak up, but I wouldn't feel particularly bullish about the prospect of this current team and manager in the Premiership.

I don't know what it is, just a general feeling I guess. Last time we made the Championship play offs every man woman and child sang 'We love you Harty, we do' Marlon and Johnno were godlike. Sir Desmond and the incredible Michael Dawson were solid at the back. This season is far more of a muddle, far more of a conundrum. Dexter's a class player, sure, but how many kids have got his poster on their wall like they did Marlon's? Raddy has got the spark reminiscent of those days, but he's often left out and subject of regular speculation.

Does anyone get what I'm going on about here, or am I talking crap?

 

[Strummer]

Maybe this thread is one that should have been started in May

However - of course the season is a success; any season you improve on the previous season must be regarded as a successful one. Considering we finished 19th last year, then even if we make a monumental balls-up of our remaining fixtures to finish outside the playoffs, it's still been successful.

For what it is worth, I tipped us to finish 10th; I thought maybe we'd flirt with a playoff place, but our lack of depth would catch us out towards the end of the season. I am happy we've done significantly better than that, and even if the playoffs is as far as it goes this season, then that's fine by me.

The Premiership is a huge gulf to bridge, and another season in the Championship will only do us good. Yes I know we'd all like to be in the top division, but significant strengthening would be needed, otherwise we'd be straight back down again.

We can trundle out the cliches that we have the smallest and youngest squad in the league, but our players have done magnificently this year, regardless of where we finish.

(Oh and for the WBA fan, West Brom have 28 players who have played in at least one match this year, a quick Google of some WBA sites informs me!)